Neil Ernst

Neil is an associate professor of computer science at the University of Victoria, where he directs the UVic Matrix Institute for Data Science. He holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Toronto.

Neil's research focuses on software architecture and requirements, with a particular interest in technical debt — how short-term design decisions accumulate long-term costs in software systems. More recently, he has been exploring how LLM-influenced development practices affect these dynamics. He applies empirical methods to understand how software engineers actually work, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Neil also works in trans-disciplinary settings, developing community-centric machine learning pipelines for natural resource management and studying how researchers build and use scientific software. His work is guided by a commitment to broadening computing sciences toward more inclusive definitions, and he aligns his research with sustainability goals including education, infrastructure and climate action.